Saturday, May 23, 2009

Bittersweet Refinements: XXIV-XXVI

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.

Chapter XXIVThe Wrath of God

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. [Romans 1:18-20 NIV]

Alas, is it not any wonder that our Heavenly Father would get so angry at those who do not want to even acknowledge His existence—let alone accept Him as truly being their own Heavenly Father. For instead of just saying that He loves them enough to die for them, our Heavenly Father went ahead and actually did it by sending a full and equal part of Himself to suffer and die upon that cruel, cruel Roman cross at Calvary in order to pay the price in full that was required to redeem all of us from having the face the penalty of our own sins[1].

No, that is not something that is taken into account, and this is something that needs to change. For it would portray our Heavenly Father in a much better light if it was much more widely taught that the absolute truth of the matter truly is that the wrath that will poured-out upon the ungodly, come Judgment Day[2], has so much more to do with the anguish of a broken heart (His heart, to be exact[3]) than it does with righteous indignation[4].

Yes, from our own very limited ground-based points-of-view[5], that sounds rather petty. For who from amongst has the right to say of another, “If I cannot have them, then no one else will”?

On the other hand, are we not all the work of His hands[6], and should He not have the right to do with what He has created for His own good pleasure[7] as He sees fit? After all, is it not a principle of common law that one has the right to do with their own property as they will as long as it does no harm to another’s property until it is deemed no longer lawful by a higher authority, and who has more authority than our Heavenly Father? For it is written: “If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’’’ [Job 9:12 NIV]

In other words, we were all created by Him for Him[8]. Therefore, our Heavenly Father has the right to do with us as He wills[9].

Nonetheless, let us not dwell upon the threat of destruction[10]. For we were all created to spend all of eternity with our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory, and all who will but want to truly be who we were all created to be has His promise to look forward to[11]!

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. [Romans 8:20-21 NIV]

No, none of us are given a choice of whether or not we want to be physically born into this world as we naturally are, and if what is of this world was all that there would ever be to our existence, our outrage would be most justified. For it is written: The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. [Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 NIV]

On the other hand, we are given a choice of whether or not we want to be one of our Heavenly Father’s children by faith, and with this comes a promise of much glory. For it is also written: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28 NIV]

Therefore, let us not tarry. For unless it is personally revealed[1], no one knows when their own end of this world will come to pass[2]—let alone when it will be too late[3].

Yes, this is a choice that is needed to be made. For only those who truly want to spend all of eternity with our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven as an heir to all that is His in glory will be welcome to do so after their own time as a part of this world has come to an end[4].

No, it is not good enough just to want to escape eternal damnation. For to think in such a way as this is (in effect) the same as to think that it would be better to be a member of a family (any family) than to be alone[5].

In other words, the choice that we are given to make is personal—both for our Heavenly Father and ourselves. For it has always been His desire for as many as will to want to be one of His children by faith[6].

No, this world has never been about giving us opportunities to prove ourselves as being worthy of our Heavenly Father’s favor. How could it be? For aside from being a work of His hands[7], He has known everything that there will ever be to know about each and every one of us since before we even came into existence[8].

It is, however, about giving our Heavenly Father opportunities to receive love that is freely given from us all, which certainly includes us wanting to give Him the full benefit of our considerable doubts. Hence: the real choice that we are all given to make[9].

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. [Hebrews 9:27-28 NAS]

No, not everyone in the Christian community[1] humbly accepts[2] that there are only two places that we can go after our own time as a part of this world comes to an end[3]. For they have been led to believe[4] that there is also Purgatory, which is supposed to be where those who have not knowingly[5] committed a mortal sin[6] can go to do whatever they need to do so that they can eventually enter into our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven[7].

Yes, there would be good reason for us all to pay close attention to what has been taught about Purgatory if it really was expected of us to prove ourselves as being worthy of our Heavenly Father’s favor[8]. For it is written: The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. [Psalms 14:2-3 NIV]

However, since our Heavenly Father has known since the beginning what would be in the end[9], it should be rather obvious[10] that there has never been a need for such a place as Purgatory is supposed to be like to exist[11]. After all, how can anything be proven to the One[12] who already knows everything about everything[13]?

Yes, it could be argued that any stopover in Purgatory would not be so much about proving oneself as it would be more about completing all of the necessary requirements[14], but to make such an assertion is (in effect) the same as to accuse our Heavenly Father of being a liar[15]—be assured[16]! For He promises that: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:1-4 NAS]

Alas, there are some who would still point to the verses in our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible that appear to be referring to souls not being left in Hell[17] as being sufficient proof in and of itself that Purgatory does indeed exist—albeit only as another part of the place[18]. Be assured that these verses are actually referring to the grave—not Hell. For in what way would a change in location really change anything? After all, either the Lord Jesus Christ paid the price in full that was required to redeem all of us from having to pay for all of our own many, many transgressions of His Law ourselves or He did not[19], and if He did, then the truth about us being accepted into our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory[20] would have to be that: It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. [Romans 9:16 NIV] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:8-10 NAS]

Yes, many would argue that grace can only go so far[21]. For it is the way of this world that nothing comes for free.

On the other hand: but if it is by grace—His unmerited favor and graciousness—it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace—it would be meaningless. [Romans 11:6 AMP]

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The purpose of this site has changed somewhat. For it was originally meant to help clear-up much of the confusion that now exists concerning our Heavenly Father and the righteousness of all of His most awesome ways, especially in regards to the very close and personal relationship that we can have with Him in this day and age. It still is, but in a much more subtle way. Now, if any of this has you curious, please visit FishHawk Droppings, which is where all of the books that I have been given to publish by our Heavenly Father (so far) have been placed in the order that they are meant to be read. By the way, the definition of a crackerhead is someone, who crumbles under pressure, regardless of whether real or imagined.